XX September Street in Rome is named after the date that commemorates the culmination of the long process of Italian unification. There, behind the Quirinal Palace, the former residence of the popes and today the seat of the presidency of the Republic, the secrets of one of the military bodies most admired by Italians are hidden. They are the so-called corazzieri, or cuirassiers, the 250 members of the historic guard that has protected kings and presidents since the 16th century, and who are now the uniformed shadow that guards the greatest representative of Italian power, the head of state, Sergio Mattarella. .
“We are the honor guard of the presidents of the Republic and we are in charge of the protection and security of the head of state and his guests,” says, proudly, the commander of the regiment, the Sicilian colonel Rino Coppola, at the entrance to the barracks. .
Entering the corazzieri barracks is entering a world built on the scale of giants. The parked motorcycles are all from the Italian brand Guzzi and of high displacement, but in size XL. The horses that are raised in the stables and that show off in the presidential parades reach 1.87 meters. Even the ambulance they have, in case there is a health emergency, is adapted for the needs of a two-meter tall man.
The reason is very clear: the corazzieri is a regiment made up of men of great stature. One of the most important requirements to enter this body is to exceed at least 1.90 meters, a height that has been changing with the evolution of the average height of Italians. There are even those that exceed two meters. They must impose from afar, but also have a “harmonious” physique as an essential requirement to access this honor. But not only this, but recruits must master all fields, such as bombing, shooting or martial arts. They are seen from afar with their iconic uniforms, but when they are dressed in discreet suits and ties, that is when they carry out their most dangerous missions when ensuring the safety of President Mattarella and his guests at all types of events in Italy and visits. of State.
A dozen aspiring corazzieri ride in a multipurpose space where they also carry out shooting practice. In the background, its motto is read, in Latin: “Virtus in periculis firmior”, virtue is strengthened by danger. They practice studied choreographies for when they must accompany the president on designated days such as the Feast of the Republic, which is celebrated every June 2 in this country. They are all between 20 and 26 years old and are already carabinieri, members of the Italian militarized police, who want to become part of the future of the corazzieri.
There are no women among them, something that could soon change, according to a colonel. “There is no rule that prevents women from being part of the corazzieri, it's just that until now we have not found any woman over 1.90 who has aspired to it,” he defends. But, as there are already some who exceed this height among the ranks of the carabinieri, it is very likely that in the coming years Italians will meet the first woman wearing this historic uniform that has remained unchanged since the end of the 19th century. Of course, they will have to support an enormous weight. The breastplate alone weighs between seven and eight kilos, while the helmet is two kilos. They have not made new breastplates for sixty years, but have restored existing ones.
The origins of the corazzieri date back to the 14th century, with a body of archers and squires who were in charge of the security of the residence and the exponents of the Savoy house. However, it was not until the dukedom of Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro, between 1553 and 1580, that a true “Guard of Honor of the prince” was formed, composed of fifty men commanded by a captain who debuted in the famous battle. of San Quentin, on August 10, 1557, which faced the Spanish empire and the French army.
The body grew until 1630 had about four hundred men, among which a company that began to wear breastplates with the monogram that has survived to the present day. But the birth of modern births took place much later, on February 7, 1868, when Crown Prince Umberto was to marry Margaret of Savoy, daughter of the Duke of Genoa. Then, 80 mounted carabinieri, the most handsome chosen from the legions of Florence, Milan and Bologna, formed a representation squad and an honor escort.
When the marriage celebrations were over, the group was not dissolved, but, in addition to appearing as an honor escort, it also adopted functions of surveillance of the royal apartments and protection of the sovereigns. In those beginnings they changed their names, from His Majesty's Honor Guard to the Squadron of the Royal Carabinieri, but among the people they were already becoming known as corazzieri for their brilliant armored uniforms, the nickname that has survived to this day. At the birth of the Republic, Umberto II freed the corazzieri from their oath to the monarchy, until, over the years, they returned to proudly guarding the head of state, the president of the Republic.
Italians see corazzieri static during long hours on guard duty, but not when performing day-to-day tasks like the rest of them. Among the members of the body there are those who are assigned the duties of blacksmiths, cooks or electricians, and also those who are in charge of accompanying the horses twice a week through the Villa Borghese park in Rome so that they can breathe a little fresh air. In the stables they have 60 specimens, most of the Irish breed, and all black or dark brown, at least 175 centimeters tall to be proportional to their tall owners.
When you see the presidential banner raised next to the Italian and European flag in the Quirinal Palace, know that President Sergio Mattarella is in Rome, but also, with him, his most loyal guardians.
